Artificial Recharge of Urban Storm-Water Runoff

Abstract: The disposition of selected contaminants in the soils, in the percolating water, and in the recharge-mound water of five retention/recharge basins was investigated in Fresno, California. The concentrations of Cu, Fe, As, Ni, and Pb in the recharge-mound water were similar to the regional ground water values. No detectable levels were found for any of the pesticides or other organic priority pollutants, for which recharge-mound water were analyzed. The surface few centimetres of the basin soils have accumulated As, Ni, Cu, and especially Pb. Turfed basins in use since 1962, 1965, and 1969, respectively, had median Pb contents in the 0-2 cm soil depth interval of 570, 670, and 1400 mg Pb/kg soil. Chlorodane was found to have accumulated in the surface few centimeters.